Tottenham vs. Stoke City: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
Stoke City turned around a two-goal half-time deficit to take a first point of the season as they pegged Tottenham Hotspur back to draw 2-2 in the Premier League at White Hart Lane.
Spurs were initially the better side and deservedly took the lead through Eric Dier, before Nacer Chadli volleyed in just before the break to double the lead.
Things looked comfortable for most of the second half for the home side—but as soon as Marko Arnautovic scored from the penalty spot, Spurs crumbled completely, and Mame Biram Diouf made it 2-2 soon after.
Here are all our winners and losers from another entertaining fixture, a draw in scoreline but "the draw felt like a defeat in the Tottenham dressing room" according to Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino, when interviewed by BBC Sport's Conor McNamara after the game (per his Twitter account).
Winner: Jack Butland
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He might have been beaten a couple of times, but Stoke could have been facing a much greater scoreline than 2-0 in the second half if it wasn't for goalkeeper Jack Butland.
The young Englishman made two good low stops early on to deny Christian Eriksen, then also made a superb block early in the second half when it seemed Harry Kane was an absolute dead cert to make it 3-0 at the time.
His handling, distribution and claiming of high balls were all exemplary, and he looks set to take his chance as No. 1 this season. The importance of his saves was only underlined when Stoke came back to rescue a late point.
Loser: Jan Vertonghen
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Jan Vertonghen's form has been patchy over the last 18 months, with injuries, rotation of partners and Spurs' own hit-and-miss performances having an impact, and Saturday was one of his poorer displays.
He and Toby Alderweireld were relatively solid as a pairing, but it was the new signing rather than Vertonghen who made the timely interceptions and tackles when required. Vertonghen missed marking his man several times from crosses, which caused danger—including for Diouf's late equaliser.
The two will get re-accustomed to each other as they get more game time together, but Vertonghen needs to be more assertive in aerial situations and positional play.
Winner: Stephen Ireland
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The turnaround of Stoke City's performance can be traced back to a double substitution on the hour by Mark Hughes, when he brought on Joselu—who didn't do too much, but did win the penalty for the first goal—and Stephen Ireland.
The Irish midfielder was superb after entering. He changed the game by driving on from central midfield to get Stoke moving the ball far quicker from the middle of the pitch to the final third, opening up gaps in Spurs' defence with his movement and also being inventive with his passing.
He also got into the box a number of times, heading just over once, and provided a fine dribble and cross for the equalising goal.
Loser: Mauricio Pochettino
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Spurs looked set for the victory with half an hour left: They were comfortable on the ball, two goals up and had created a few more goalscoring chances in the second half.
Mauricio Pochettino's subs looked fairly standard and safe: Nabil Bentaleb for Ryan Mason to shore up defensively in the centre of the park and then, a little more surprisingly, Harry Kane replaced by Erik Lamela, though the forward had worked hard and looked a little tired at times.
Pochettino did not, however, have any way to react or change the team's shape as soon as Stoke scored their first goal. Spurs' mentality is notoriously fragile, especially at home with the fans getting on players' backs at short notice, and he was helpless looking on as Spurs inevitably conceded a quickfire second.
One point from two games isn't the best start for a Spurs side with top-four hopes.
Eric Dier spoke after the game, per Spurs' Twitter account: "It's really disappointing. We should've killed the game off. It's something we have to correct."
Winner: Mame Biram Diouf
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Stoke striker Mame Biram Diouf didn't have a standout afternoon in terms of his technical performance, but he kept going, kept getting himself into scoring opportunities—and eventually he took his rewards.
Three times he was denied by Hugo Lloris with relatively straight-forward chances, including a header from close range and a low shot after the keeper's poor kick out. Late on, however, Diouf managed a deft glance of a header into the far corner of the net to produce the equaliser for Stoke.
With lots of additions in attacking midfield this summer for Stoke, it's important they have someone capable of snaffling up the chances leading the line; although Diouf is not always the most refined, his positivity and repetitive runs make him an important part of the side.
